'Captain Socceroo' felled by cancer

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Warren in action in his heyday (top), and honoured by FIFA boss Sepp Blatter in Sydney last July

Australian soccer legend Johnny Warren has died.

Warren, 61, was diagnosed with cancer in 2002. He passed
away at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital shortly
after 5.30pm (AEDT) today.

The face of Australian soccer for the last three decades,
Warren was famous for captaining a spirited team of
part-time Socceroos and featuring in the country's only
appearance in the World Cup finals in 1974 in Germany.

He was also responsible for hosting some of the most watched
soccer games on Australian television.

His commentary work at SBS Television was exceptional, endearing
him to legions of soccer fans across the country.

A passionate advocate of the game in Australia, his demise comes
barely five days after the launch of the A-League, the reformed
local competition.

Warren's seminal contribution to the high-level
official inquiry into the game - the Crawford Report - led to
the establishment of the Australian Soccer Association's
A-League.

He was present at the glittering launch of the A-League
at Sydney's Imax Theatre on Monday.

A few months ago, Warren was honoured for his services to
soccer by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Blatter presented an emotional Warren with the Centennial Medal
of Honour in a formal ceremony in Sydney last July.

Warren joined a distinguished list of stars honoured with
this medal including Pele (Brazil), John Cruyff (Netherlands),
Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) and Eusebio (Portugal).

"I want Australia to embrace this fabulous game," Warren said on
receiving the honour. "It's not 'wog-ball'. This is the game of the
world."

"We are on the verge of doing big things. I'm sure it will
happen," he said, referring to the potential of the Socceroos to
make a mark on the world stage.

A few years ago, Warren published the startlingly-titled book
Sheilas, Wogs and Poofters, which
recounted his chequered experiences with soccer in the
country.

Born in the Sydney suburb of Botany, Warren opted to play soccer
over rugby or league at a young age. He turned out 42 times
for Australia in a career that spanned 15 years.

He went on to become a coach and an administrator in the
local game, apart from excelling as an analyst on SBS.

Australian Soccer Association (ASA) chief executive John O'Neill
paid tribute tonight to the man widely known as 'Captain
Socceroo'.

"The legend of Johnny Warren should be recognised by
the game in a way that really matters," said O'Neill.

Shining light of soccer ... Johnny Warren

"Thank God for people like Johnny Warren," he said, expressing
shock at the loss of such a visionary figure to the game.

"Mr Warren's passion and support of the game never wavered and
despite his illness he still managed to show his support by
attending the launch of our new national league earlier this
week,'' said O'Neill.

ASA chairman Frank Lowy said Warren's legacy would be remembered
long after his death.

"There has never been a finer ambassador for the sport of soccer
in Australia,'' said Lowy.

Former Socceroo skipper Paul Wade hailed Warren's contribution
to the local game, describing it as a tragic loss.

Speaking to Sky TV, Wade recalled that fateful day in late
1997 at the MCG, when Warren wept openly on television as Australia
blew a two-nil lead to lose to Iran on away goals in their World
Cup playoff.

After last Monday's much-hyped launch of the new
national competition, Warren sounded a note of caution.
He warned the league might become a "superannuation fund"
for foreign players past their prime and work to the detriment
of young local players.

"I hate all the talk about this being like a superannuation fund
for old players coming back. It shouldn't be," Warren told
reporters.

"I don't understand money for players who are not going to draw
it back through the gates, who've had their careers and come back
here to earn what three promising kids could earn. Investment in
youth never fails. It's just a matter of clubs having enough balls
to see it through."